Passport & Travel Documents#098

Understanding Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)

Obtain a PCC required by foreign employers, immigration authorities, or certain visa categories.

At a glance

Jurisdiction

All of India (PCC issued by Regional Passport Office; police records from local police station)

Who applies

Indian citizens who require a Police Clearance Certificate for emigration, overseas employment, long-term visa applications (student, work, or PR), or foreign government requirements confirming absence of criminal record

Typical time

7–21 working days (Normal); 1–3 working days (Tatkaal — ₹2,000 extra); timelines vary by Regional Passport Office and police clearance turnaround

Fee

₹500 (Normal); ₹2,000 (Tatkaal); paid online

Who should use this process

✓Must be an Indian citizen holding a valid Indian passport
✓Applicant must have a legitimate overseas purpose — employment, higher education, immigration, or long-term visa
✓Must be currently residing in India; applicants abroad should contact the nearest Indian Embassy/Consulate for PCC
✓PCC is issued based on the address registered in the passport — police records from that jurisdiction are verified

Who does NOT need to apply

✕Indian citizens residing abroad must apply through the Indian Embassy/Consulate in their country of residence, not through RPO
✕PCC cannot be obtained if there is an active criminal case, FIR, or warrant against the applicant — application will be held pending resolution
✕OCI/PIO card holders and foreign nationals are not eligible for Indian PCC

Documents required

#	Document	Type needed	Purpose
1	Valid Indian Passport (current)	Original	Primary identity document and the basis for the PCC — the PCC is linked to the passport number
2	Copy of all pages of the passport (including blank pages)	Self-attested Copy	Submitted along with the application for record; RPO retains copies of the data page, last page, and address page
3	Proof of present address	Original	If current address differs from passport address; Aadhaar, Voter ID, or utility bill confirming current residence
4	Aadhaar Card	Self-attested Copy	Identity and address verification; Aadhaar-based e-KYC is used to pre-fill the online PCC application
5	Previous Indian passports (if any)(optional)Required if police records at the RPO or local station do not match due to previous addresses in other states	Self-attested Copy	Submitted to confirm prior address history and enable police verification across all prior residential addresses
6	Purpose-specific document (employment contract, university admission letter, visa requirement letter)(optional)Requested at RPO discretion; important for Emigration Check Required (ECR) category passport holders	Soft copy (PDF)	Establishes the genuine overseas need for the PCC; may be required at the RPO counter or on request

Original documents: Carry originals only for in-person visits — do not hand them over permanently unless explicitly required.

Step-by-step guide

1
Register or log in to Passport Seva portal
Online
Visit passportindia.gov.in and log in with your existing credentials (same account used for passport). First-time users need to register. The PCC application is available under 'Police Clearance Certificate' in the services menu.
10 minutesPassport Seva — passportindia.gov.in
2
Fill the PCC application form
Online
Complete the online PCC form with passport details, current address, overseas purpose, and employment/study details. If applying under Tatkaal, select the Tatkaal option. All addresses where you have lived in the past three years may need to be listed — PV is conducted for all of them.
15–20 minutesPassport Seva — passportindia.gov.in
3
Pay the PCC fee
Online
Pay ₹500 (Normal) or ₹2,000 (Tatkaal) via net banking, debit/credit card, or UPI. Confirm payment and note the Application Reference Number (ARN) generated.
5 minutesPassport Seva — passportindia.gov.in
4
Book and attend appointment at Regional Passport Office (RPO) or PSK
Offline
Book an appointment at the designated RPO or PSK that handles PCC for your district. Carry originals of the passport, Aadhaar, and address proof. Counter staff verify documents, capture a biometric photograph, and register the PCC request. Tatkaal applicants may be attended to on priority at a dedicated counter.
1–2 hoursPassport Officer / RPO Staff
5
Police verification by local station
Offline
The RPO or PSK transmits the PCC request to the local police station in the applicant's residential jurisdiction. The beat constable/Special Branch officer verifies the applicant's address, checks local crime records (criminal cases, FIRs, warrants), and submits the clearance or adverse report online.
3–10 daysSpecial Branch Officer / Beat Constable, Local Police Station
6
RPO issues PCC and dispatches
Offline
On receipt of a clear police report, the RPO prints the PCC on security stationery, signs and seals it, and dispatches it by speed post to the applicant's registered address. The PCC states the applicant's passport number, name, and period of check, and is signed by the Passport Officer.
2–5 days after clear police reportPassport Officer, Regional Passport Office

Government officers involved

Passport Officer

Regional Passport Office, Ministry of External Affairs

Document verification at RPO/PSK; PCC signing and dispatch

Reviews the application and police verification report; signs and seals the issued PCC.

Special Branch Officer / Beat Constable

State Police Department — Local Police Station

Police verification stage

Checks local police records for any FIRs, criminal cases, or warrants against the applicant; submits the clearance/adverse report to the RPO through the Passport Police portal.

Government portals

Passport Seva

https://www.passportindia.gov.in

PCC application submission, fee payment, appointment booking, and status tracking.

Indian Embassy / Consulate Website (for applicants abroad)

https://www.mea.gov.in/indian-missions-abroad.htm

PCC applications for Indian citizens residing outside India — each mission has its own PCC process and fee.

Things to watch out for

PCC is address-specific — multiple PCCs needed for multiple past addresses

If you have lived at different addresses in different states in the past three years, separate police verification is conducted for each. This can significantly increase processing time.

PCC validity is typically 6 months

Most countries and employers accept a PCC that is not more than 6 months old. Apply close to the date you need it — do not apply too early, or it may expire before you use it.

Pending FIR or criminal case stops issuance

Any active FIR, chargesheet, or pending criminal case against the applicant will result in the PCC being withheld. The applicant must get the case cleared or obtain court orders before reapplying.

ECR passport holders face stricter scrutiny

Holders of passports marked 'Emigration Check Required' (ECR) who are going for unskilled work abroad face additional checks under the Emigration Act, 1983 via OISC. PCC is one step in a longer process.

PCC does not substitute a Character Certificate or antecedent report

Some countries require a separate Character Certificate or detailed background report from CBI or state police. PCC only confirms no local criminal record — it may not satisfy all foreign requirements.